Korean Inspired Burgers Recipes

KOREAN BBQ-STYLE ASIAN BURGER

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix the ground beef with the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, green onion, sesame seeds and black pepper. Form into four equal-sized patties. For best results, form a slight indentation in the middle of each patty and shape them just under one inch thick as they will puff up during grilling, especially in the middle. Let rest for 15 minutes at room temperature.
• In the meantime, prepare the Quick Cucumber Carrot Pickle. In a small bowl, toss the carrots, cucumber and sesame seeds with the rice vinegar and sugar.
• Assemble the condiments and garnishes of your choice for the Banchan Burger Bar.
• Preheat the barbecue grill for direct grilling over high heat.
• If you are cooking on the stove-top, set a large grill pan or frying pan over high heat. When a bead of water sizzles upon contact and evaporates, add the cooking oil. Place the patties on the hot grill or frying pan, not touching each other. Cook the patties 5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium (should be an internal temperature about 150°F.
• Serve with Banchan burger toppings.

KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN BURGERS

Steps:

• Make the slaw by combining all the ingredients together. Taste and add more chilli powder, if you like. Chill in the fridge.
• To make the sauce, put all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer gently until syrupy. Take off the heat and set aside.
• Cut away any fatty excess from the chicken thighs, then season with salt, pepper and the grated ginger. Toss the chicken with the cornflour until completely coated.
• Heat about 2cm of vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Fry the chicken thighs for 4-5 mins each side until crisp. Remove from the oil onto kitchen paper and leave to cool slightly for 2 mins. Then re-fry in the hot oil until ultra-crisp and you can hear it crackle. Remove to kitchen paper to drain.
• Reheat the sauce. Build your burgers by placing some lettuce and kimchi slaw on the base of a bun, top with the crispy chicken and drizzle over the sticky sauce.

KOREAN-INSPIRED BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the marinade: Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat. Reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade for the slaw. Transfer the remaining marinade to a shallow baking dish and let cool completely.
• For the burgers: Divide the meat into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Shape each portion with your hands into a round patty, about 3/4 inches thick. Use your thumb to make a divot in the center of each burger. Transfer to the shallow baking dish with the marinade, cover and refrigerate at least 10 to 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• For the cabbage slaw: Combine the cabbages, carrots, green onions, cilantro and sesame seeds in a medium bowl. Add the reserved 1/4 cup marinade and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let sit at least 15 minutes before serving.
• To finish the burgers: Heat a griddle or large cast-iron pan over high heat. Add the canola oil and let heat until it begins to shimmer. Remove the burgers from the marinade, season with salt and pepper and place in the pan. Cook the burgers, basting with the marinade and flipping once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked to medium doneness, about 8 minutes total.
• Place the buns cut-side up on a baking sheet, brush the cut sides with some canola oil and toast in the oven until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the gochujang "ketchup": Whisk together the gochujang, orange juice and honey in a small bowl and set aside.
• Place the burgers on the bottom buns. Top with the gochujang "ketchup", a spoonful of the slaw, cilantro leaves and the top buns and serve immediately.

KOREAN-STYLE BURGERS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the oil, lime juice, sugar, and 1/4 tsp. salt, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the cucumber and set aside for at least 15 minutes.
• Prepare a medium-high (400°F to 475°F) charcoal or gas grill fire, or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• In a medium bowl, combine the beef, kimchi, soy sauce, ginger, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Shape into four thin patties, about 4-1/2 inches across, and make a slight indentation in the center. Cover and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes and up to 1 day.
• In a medium bowl, combine the slaw mix, mayonnaise, gochujang, and sesame seeds, if using. Drain the cucumbers and reserve the liquid for basting the burgers.
• Brush the cucumber liquid on one side of each burger, and grill the burgers that side down for 2 minutes. Flip and brush with more of the liquid. continue grilling, flipping, and brushing until cooked to desired doneness (135°F for medium rare). Serve the burgers on the buns topped with some slaw (you'll have some left over) and the cucumbers.

KOREAN CHEESEBURGERS WITH SESAME-CUCUMBER PICKLES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add cucumbers and toss to coat, then let stand at room temperature.
• Heat broiler to high and set oven rack set 6 inches from heat. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, scallions, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Mix well, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the marinade to a small bowl and stir in mayonnaise and ½ teaspoon sesame oil. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine beef and 3 tablespoons of the scallion marinade. Gently mix to incorporate. Form into 8 thin patties (each about 4 ½ inches wide) and arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush tops with half of the remaining marinade. Flip and brush with the remaining marinade. Broil until golden and caramelized on top, about 4 minutes.
• Arrange cheese on 4 patties, top with the remaining patties and let stand until cheese melts, about 1 minute.
• Pour off all the liquid from the cucumbers and stir in the remaining 2 teaspoons sesame oil.
• Smear the cut side of the buns with some of the seasoned mayonnaise. Arrange bottom buns on plates. Layer with lettuce, onion, tomato, double-stack burgers, pickles and top bun. Serve with extra pickles on the side.

KRAZY KOREAN BURGERS

Steps:

• With the motor running on a food processor, drop in the garlic and ginger and process until finely chopped. Add pancetta, onion, chile flakes, soybean paste, chile paste, sugar and pepper and process until fairly smooth. Set the pancetta mixture aside.
• Crumble the beef into a large bowl. Add the seltzer, sesame seeds, pancetta mixture and some salt and pepper and gently mix together with your hands, being careful not to overwork the mixture. Form the mixture into 4 patties, each about 1 inch thick and 4 inches wide. Create a depression in the center of one side of each patty, as burgers tend to rise in the middle during cooking and this will help the burgers come out flat. If not cooking immediately, cover the patties and refrigerate.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Put the patties in the skillet depression-side up and cook, flipping halfway through, until browned and cooked through, about 7 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, heat a two-burner griddle/grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Spread both sides of the buns with the butter and cook cut-side down until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. (If working in batches, toast the bottom buns first.) Transfer to individual plates.
• Put a patty on each bottom bun and top with lettuce and then the Cucumber Kimchi. Smear some Korean Ketchup and Doenjang Mayonnaise on the top buns and place on the burgers. Secure with bamboo skewers or long toothpicks and serve immediately.
• Cut each cucumber crosswise into 2-inch slices with a small knife. Stand the slices on their cut sides and cut each one two-thirds of the way down into quarters, keeping them attached at the bottom. Sprinkle the cucumbers with the salt, spreading the cucumbers open to get the salt deep inside the cuts. Arrange the cucumbers with their cross-cut sides up in a single layer in a glass or other nonreactive container that is at least 2 inches tall and that has a tight-fitting lid. Cover and let soften at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, combine the scallions, onion, chile flakes, shrimp, garlic, ginger and 2 tablespoons water in a food processor. Pulse until a coarse spice paste forms, then stir in the chives.
• Rinse the salted cucumbers well under cold water, making sure to rid the crevices of all the salt. Shake dry and then press the spice paste all over and into the crevices of each piece. Return the cucumbers to the (rinsed) container, cross-cut sides up, packing them somewhat tightly and pressing in any remaining spice paste and liquid. Cover and let the cucumbers ferment at room temperature for about 24 hours. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Stir together the ketchup and chile paste in a small bowl. Cover and store in the refrigerator if not using immediately.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise and soybean paste in a small bowl until smooth. Cover and store in the refrigerator if not using immediately.